We are seeking a strategic, metrics-driven, and hands-on Director, Business Development to lead and scale our acquisition origination efforts. This is a player-coach role that blends individual execution with team leadershipâyouâll manage and mentor a small team of business development professionals while continuing to engage directly with high-value accounts.Your primary focus will be on building and nurturing relationships with investment bankers, M&A advisors, and brokers, establishing us as a preferred buyer within the vertical market software (VMS) ecosystem. Youâll also own the integrity of our Salesforce CRM, ensuring data accuracy, performance tracking, and accountability across the team.This is a high-impact role with visibility across the firmâs investment leadership and a path to more senior commercial or corporate development positions.Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & CoachingManage and develop a team of business development associates and managers; provide hands-on coaching, feedback, and support.Set clear outreach quotas and performance KPIs; track progress and hold team members accountable.Foster a high-performance culture rooted in discipline, ownership, and curiosity.Strategic Origination & Account OwnershipPersonally drive outreach and relationship management with high-leverage accounts: investment banks, M&A advisors, and key intermediaries.Represent the firm in founder- and banker-facing environments with professionalism and clarity of purpose.Refine and lead go-to-market strategies targeting referral networks and channels, not just direct-to-founder outreach.Salesforce Ownership & Funnel ManagementServe as the Salesforce power user and ownerâensuring data hygiene, workflow automation, and performance tracking are fully operational.Regularly analyze BD funnel data to identify gaps, optimize processes, and inform strategic priorities.Deliver reporting and insights to senior leadership, including pipeline updates and market feedback.Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner closely with Corporate Development, M&A, and Vertical Strategy leads to ensure aligned messaging and prioritization.Contribute to investment theses and market mapping for key verticals by sharing intelligence from intermediaries and the field.Qualifications6+ years of experience in business development, origination, M&A, or enterprise sales, with at least 2+ years managing high-performing teams.Deep understanding of the VMS ecosystem preferred.Proven experience working with investment banks, brokers, and intermediaries in a sourcing or partnership capacity.Strong Salesforce expertiseâable to drive system improvements, dashboarding, and usage compliance.A natural player-coach: confident owning relationships while also mentoring others.Excellent communication skills and executive presence; credible with both junior staff and senior deal professionals.Track record of driving measurable impact through outbound sourcing and relationship management.
